Chapter 21 The Sorrows of a Princess

Li Qing's gaze sharpened. "Has this princess been betrothed?"

"She should have been betrothed," Wanling replied.

Li Qing didn't ask further and smiled lightly. "Since there's a princess backing you, I'm relieved."

"Um..." Wanling stole a glance at him and probed, "About the poem the young master wrote..."

"The madam has already told me," Li Qing smiled. "After all, it was written for the girl. If it can help you, I have no objections."

"Wanling thanks the young master for the gift."

Wanling gracefully rose to curtsy, but Li Qing held her up.

"Don't be so polite, girl."

As their skin made contact, half of her lotus - like arm was fair, smooth and tender. Looking down, Li Qing could faintly see a hint of cleavage. Her eyelashes were thick and curled, her eyes as bright as mountain grapes were extremely lively, her jade - like nose was straight, her delicate jaw was rosy, and her exquisite oval face was flawless and beautiful.

The two were less than half a foot apart, and Wanling's peerless beauty was fully presented in front of him.

"Gulp~"

Li Qing couldn't help but swallow his saliva, feeling a bit distracted.

Immediately, he cursed himself for being shameless. She was only fifteen years old!

This brief physical contact made both of them a bit uncomfortable, and the atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

Just then, Lianxiang and Hongxiu, who had finished washing up, came in and broke the awkward atmosphere.

Hongxiu saw their expressions and giggled, "Seems we've come at a bad time."

"That's right," Lianxiang said with a mischievous smile. "What did the young master do to Miss Wanling?"

"Sisters, you've got it wrong," Wanling explained with a blushing face, her delicate fingers pinching the corner of her dress. "The young master isn't that kind of person."

"Oh, so you're already speaking up for him?"

"Sister has a crush on him," Lianxiang teased. "Why not stay with him tonight?"

Hongxiu patted her and said irritably, "Be careful what you say. If someone hears and tells the madam, sister will be in big trouble."

The pure - hearted courtesans rely on their innocence as a selling point. Once they lose their virginity, they'll lose their value.

Wanling would surely be severely beaten and then abandoned by the madam, completely reduced to a common courtesan. At her age, she couldn't bear such a fate.

"Just kidding," Lianxiang realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly changed the subject. "Sorry for keeping the young master waiting. The night is long..."

"It's still early," Wanling glared at her. "What's the hurry, sister?"

The two women: "..."

Wanling was too shy. After staying for a short while, she left dejectedly.

After she left, the three of them became more relaxed.

Lianxiang twisted her slender waist and sat next to Li Qing, picked up the wine pot to pour wine, and offered it with a charming smile. "Please, young master, drink up this cup."

"Hehe..." Li Qing lowered his head, touched the cup with his lips, and drank up the wine. "Good wine!"

Lianxiang smiled sweetly, got up to fetch a guqin, and plucked the strings. Hongxiu started dancing to the melody.

Li Qing drank by himself, listening to the music and watching the dance, enjoying himself immensely.

...

At the fourth watch, the two women fell asleep, and Li Qing left quietly.

He went home, practiced for two sticks of incense time, then got up and rushed to the imperial palace.

In the Qianqing Palace, the princes and imperial grandsons came to pay their daily respects. Although Empress Ma's complexion was getting better day by day, the proper etiquette couldn't be neglected.

After they finished, Li Qing stepped forward to perform acupuncture on Empress Ma.

"Been to the brothel again?" Empress Ma said, exasperated. "Going there every day, even an iron - bodied person can't take it. Don't think that just because you're young, you can indulge yourself wantonly. You'll regret it in the future."

"Er... Your Majesty is right," Li Qing forced a smile. "As a doctor, I naturally understand this principle. I'll be more careful in the future."

After finishing the acupuncture, Empress Ma sat up on the bed and asked, "Does this acupuncture need to be done every day?"

"Once every seven days is enough," Li Qing said. "Too much of a good thing can be bad. The acupuncture I perform is just a means to revitalize Your Majesty. Your Majesty yourself are of utmost importance.

Relax, keep your mind and body happy, have a reasonable diet, eat small meals more frequently... These play a crucial role in Your Majesty's condition.

Your Majesty, please rest assured. I will do my best and won't slack off in the slightest."

Empress Ma nodded slightly. "I feel much better now. Can I leave the palace for a walk?"

"Where does Your Majesty want to go?"

"To the princess's mansion."

"Yes, you can," Li Qing nodded.

Empress Ma was very happy. "You may leave. I need to change my clothes."

"Yes, this humble official takes his leave."

Li Qing cupped his hands and left the hall.

As soon as he left the hall, he met Zhu Yuanzhang who was coming. "This humble official pays homage to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor."

"Rise," Zhu Yuanzhang stopped. "How is the Empress's condition now?"

"Your Majesty is in the recovery stage."

"When will she fully recover?"

Li Qing said with a forced smile, "This depends on the situation. I dare not make a hasty conclusion."

Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang's displeased expression, he explained, "Your Majesty, when Her Majesty will fully recover doesn't entirely depend on me. Her Majesty herself accounts for a larger factor."

"Ah," Zhu Yuanzhang clearly didn't like this answer, but he didn't make things difficult. He also knew this truth, so he started to paint a rosy future for Li Qing.

Li Qing didn't take it seriously in his heart but had to pretend to be full of enthusiasm. It was really exhausting.

While they were talking, Empress Ma, dressed in formal attire, walked out of the hall surrounded by palace maids.

Zhu Yuanzhang left Li Qing behind and walked forward a few steps. "Sister, where are you going?"

Empress Ma smiled. "I'm going to see Changning, Chang'an, and the others."

"Just ask them to come here," Zhu Yuanzhang said. "Your body isn't fully recovered yet. Don't run around."

"What do you mean by running around when I just want to see my daughters?" Empress Ma said discontentedly. "Li Qing said I can go."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Li Qing. Li Qing stepped forward to explain, "Your Majesty, fortunately, it's not far, and Her Majesty won't be walking there. Going out to relax is good for the recovery of her condition."

After a pause, he whispered, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty is in the recovery stage. She mustn't get angry. You'd better just go along with her."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded helplessly. "You go with her, just in case."

"It might not be appropriate for me to follow Her Majesty when she goes to visit the princess... Yes, this humble official obeys the order."

Zhu Yuanzhang's cold gaze softened slightly. He said to Empress Ma, "Don't tire yourself out. Come back early."

"This concubine obeys the order."

...

Zhu Yuanzhang was a good father. Fearing that his daughters wouldn't get used to living in their husbands' families, he specially built a princess mansion. There were still palace maids and eunuchs to serve them, and the princesses lived here after getting married.

Of course, the imperial sons - in - law were not eligible to live here. However, Zhu Yuanzhang also bought mansions for the imperial sons - in - law in the capital.

The Ming Dynasty was deeply influenced by the Neo - Confucianism of Cheng Yi, Cheng Hao, and Zhu Xi. It was believed that relationships between men and women should be strictly regulated. Royal women, in particular, should set an example for the people of the world. Even for a princess to sleep with her husband, she had to get the consent of the female official.

The number of times a princess and her husband met was pitifully small, only a few times a month.

The couple was practically like a widow and a bachelor.

It was quite ridiculous. On one hand, these great Confucian scholars strongly demanded that women maintain chastity. On the other hand, they regarded men's visiting brothels as an elegant thing. It was even acceptable to talk about it in public, and instead, it was seen as a sign of romantic charm and could be flaunted.

At the Princess Mansion.

The news of the Empress's arrival spread quickly, and several princesses rushed to pay their respects.

"Lin'an, Ningguo, Anqing, Runing, pay homage to the Empress Dowager."

"Get up, all of you," Empress Ma said with a smile. "Why didn't you bring my grandchildren?"

The princesses smiled and said that the children had moved to live with their fathers.

Though they were smiling, their smiles were bitter.

Empress Ma frowned slightly. "When did this happen?"

Princess Lin'an: "Two months ago. It was an order from the Emperor Father."

"Those pedantic Confucian scholars must have submitted memorials," Princess Ningguo said angrily. "They said that the children of a princess are outsiders and can't live in the princess mansion. It's really infuriating.

Mother, you must stand up for your daughter!"

She was Empress Ma's biological daughter and the eldest daughter, so she spoke without too many scruples. The other princesses didn't dare to say it, but she dared.

As soon as Princess Ningguo said this, several princesses immediately echoed, "What sister (younger sister) said is right!"

"I'll talk to your father when I get back," Empress Ma said, also a bit angry. "It's bad enough that you can't see your husbands on weekdays. Now they don't even let your children stay with you. There's no such reason."

"Thank you, Mother," the girls said, extremely happy.

Princess Anqing noticed that a pair of eyes were looking at her from time to time. She looked up and only then noticed that there was an elegant - looking man beside the Empress Dowager. She couldn't help being stunned.